Geranium plant named ‘MARY ANNE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Geranium  cultivar named ‘MARY ANNE’ is disclosed, characterized by dark purple flowers with darker violet veins. Plants are floriferous and have a neat, mounding and compact growth habit. The flowering period of the new variety is exceptionally long, from approximately May until October and plants are Winter cold hard to −20 degrees Celsius. The new variety is a  Geranium , typically produced as an outdoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Geranium wallichianum.

Variety denomination: ‘MARY ANNE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of chance discovery. The new variety originated as a result of a planned breeding program conducted in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands. The new variety is the result of a crossing of two different unnamed, unpatented Geranium wallichianum plants. The crossing resulting in the new variety was made during 2017.

The new variety was selected by the inventor, Remy Lubbe during the Summer of 2018 at a research greenhouse in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands. After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor continued confidential trial growing of ‘MARY ANNE’ to assess the stability of characteristics unique to this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘MARY ANNE’ was first performed during Autumn of 2018 at a commercial laboratory in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands by meristem tissue culture. Through subsequent propagation by vegetative cuttings, multiple additional generations have been reproduced, having shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MARY ANNE’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MARY ANNE’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MARY ANNE’ as a new and distinct Geranium cultivar:

-   -   1. Dark purple flowers with thick, darker violet veins.     -   2. Long flowering period from approximately May until October.     -   3. Neat, mounding and compact growth habit.     -   4. Very floriferous.     -   5. Winter hardy to approximately −20 degrees Celsius.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MARY ANNE’ are similar to the unnamed seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics. The new variety, however, produces flowers which are dark purple in color, compared to the pink flowers of the seed parent. Characteristics of the pollen parent are not available for comparison.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘MARY ANNE’ can be compared to compared to the commercial variety Geranium ‘Rozanne’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,175. Plants of Rozanne are similar to plants of ‘MARY ANNE’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘Rozanne’ produce flower petals colored near Violet-Blue 90A and 90D, whereas the new variety produces petals which are a blend of Violet N87A, Violet 83B and Purple 77A. Plants of the new variety are wider than plants of ‘Rozanne’.

‘MARY ANNE’ can be compared to compared to the commercial variety Geranium ‘Sylvia's Surprise’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,333. Plants of ‘Sylvia's Surprise’ are similar to plants of ‘MARY ANNE’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of however, plants of ‘Sylvia's Surprise’ produce flower petals colored near Red-Purple 68C flushed Violet-Blue 91C with venation close to Red-Purple 70B, whereas the new variety produces petals which are a blend of Violet N87A, Violet 83B and Purple 77A. Plants of the new variety are not as wide as plants of ‘Sylvia's Surprise’.

‘MARY ANNE’ can be compared to compared to the variety Geranium ‘Kelly Anne’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 34,128. Plants of ‘Kelly Anne’ are similar to plants of ‘MARY ANNE’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of however, plants of ‘Kelly Anne’ produce flower petals colored near Purple-Violet N80C with venation close to Purple 77A, whereas the new variety produces petals which are a blend of Violet N87A, Violet 83B and Purple 77A.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘MARY ANNE’ grown outdoors in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 12 months old, shown planted in the ground. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘MARY ANNE’ plants grown outdoors in Noordwijkerhout, the Netherlands. Temperatures ranged from −5° C. to 25° C. at night to 5° C. to 32° C. during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Geranium wallichianum ‘MARY ANNE’.

PROPAGATION

-   Typical method: Tissue culture.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Upright and outwardly spreading flowering perennial. -   Height: Approximately 45 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 80 cm. -   Pot size of plant described: Uncontainerized, plant in ground. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 1 year. -   Growth rate: Vigorous.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Average length (excluding petiole): Approximately 5.5 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 7.0 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Palmate.         -   Aspect.—Flat to somewhat undulating and upwardly folded.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Sagittate.         -   Margin.—Palmately cleft, lobes biserrate.         -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture of top surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green 141B. Young             foliage under side: Near Green 141B. Mature foliage upper             side: Near Green 141B. Mature foliage under side: Near Green             141B. -   Venation:     -   -   Type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation coloration upper side.—Near Yellow-Green 145A.         -   Venation coloration under side.—Near Yellow-Green 145A. -   Petiole:     -   -   Length.—Average 6.5 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.15 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A, turning near Red 46B             during in late Summer.         -   Strength.—Very strong, flexible.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Natural flowering season: May until November in the Netherlands. -   Quantity of flowers: About 250 flowers and flower buds per plant. -   Flowers persistent or self cleaning: Petals not persistent, sepals     persistent. -   Fragrance: None detected. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 3.2 cm.         -   Depth.—Approximately 1.5 cm. -   Petals:     -   -   Petal arrangement.—5, in a single whorl. Unfused and very             slightly overlapping.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse to nearly truncate.         -   Length.—Approximately 2.0 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 2.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Deltoid.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous, all surfaces.         -   Aspect.—Mainly flat, with upward cupping towards apex.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Young Petals: A blend of Violet N87A,             Violet 83B and Purple 77A. Prominent, colored near Violet             83A. Mature Petals: A blend of Violet N87A, Violet 83B and             Purple 77A. Prominent venation, colored near Violet 83A.             Lower surface: Young Petals: Near Purple 77A with hints of             Violet N87A. Veins near violet 83A. Mature petals: Near             Purple 77A with hints of Violet N87A. Veins near violet 83A. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Length.—Average 1.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average 0. cm.         -   Color.—Near Green 138B. -   Sepals:     -   -   Quantity.—5, in a single whorl.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Length.—Approximately 9 mm.         -   Width.—Approximately 3.2 mm.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous. Margin pubescent.         -   Color (immature and mature).—Upper surface: Near Green 141B.             Lower surface: Near Green 141B. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—Average range 1.5 to 3.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A, flushed Red 46B from late             Summer.         -   Aspect.—Straight to somewhat undulating.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—Average 10.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 6 mm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Length.—Approximately 3 mm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple N186B.         -   Pollen.—Not observed -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 8 mm.         -   Stigma color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple 187A.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the     normal diseases and pests of Geranium has been observed. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: The new cultivar can tolerate     cold temperatures to approximately −25° C. and tolerates an upper     temperature range to at least 35° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named ‘MARY ANNE’ as herein illustrated and described. 